Duke University vs University of Southern California

This page compares Duke University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 47 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 47 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Duke University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Duke University is ranked #6 compared to #26 — a gap of 20 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Duke University places 67.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 56.6% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Southern California offered a median scholarship of $165,000 compared to $90,000, a difference of $75,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.